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my own coffin afore I die； nor ha’ them folks to put me in。”
Adam was silent； and tried to go on reading。 That was the
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utmost severity he could show towards his mother on a Sunday
morning。 But Lisbeth had gone too far now to check herself； and
after scarcely a minute’s quietness she began again。
“Thee mightst know well enough who ’tis I’d like t’ ha’ wi’ me。
It isna many folks I send for t’ come an’ see me。 I reckon。 An’
thee’st had the fetchin’ on her times enow。”
“Thee mean’st Dinah； Mother； I know；” said Adam。 “But it’s no
use setting thy mind on what can’t be。 If Dinah ’ud be willing to
stay at Hayslope； it isn’t likely she can come away from her aunt’s
house； where they hold her like a daughter； and where she’s more
bound than she is to us。 If it had been so that she could ha’
married Seth； that ’ud ha’ been a great blessing to us； but we can’t
have things just as we like in this life。 Thee must try and make up
thy mind to do without her。”
“Nay； but I canna ma’ up my mind； when she’s just cut out for
thee； an’ nought shall ma’ me believe as God didna make her an’
send her there o’ purpose for thee。 What’s it sinnify about her
bein’ a Methody！ It ’ud happen wear out on her wi’ marryin’。”
Adam threw himself back in his chair and looked at his mother。
He understood now what she had been aiming at from the
beginning of the conversation。 It was as unreasonable；
impracticable a wish as she had ever urged； but he could not help
being moved by so entirely new an idea。 The chief point； however；
was to chase away the notion from his mother’s mind as quickly as
possible。
“Mother；” he said； gravely； “thee ’t talking wild。 Don’t let me
hear thee say such things again。 It’s no good talking o’ what can
never be。 Dinah’s not for marrying； she’s fixed her heart on a
different sort o’ life。”
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“Very like；” said Lisbeth； impatiently； “very like she’s none for
marr’ing； when them as she’d be willin’ t’ marry wonna ax her。 I
shouldna ha’ been for marr’ing thy feyther if he’d ne’er axed me；
an’ she’s as fond o’ thee as e’er I war o’ Thias； poor fellow。”
The blood rushed to Adam’s face； and for a few moments he
was not quite conscious where he was。 His mother and the kitchen
had vanished for him； and he saw nothing but Dinah’s face turned
up towards his。 It seemed as if there were a resurrection of his
dead joy。 But he woke up very speedily from that dream （the
waking was chill and sad）； for it would have been very foolish in
him to believe his mother’s words—she could have no ground for
them。 He was prompted to express his disbelief very strongly—
perhaps that he might call forth the proofs； if there were any to be
offered。
“What dost say such things for； Mother； when thee’st got no
foundation for ’em？ Thee know’st nothing as gives thee a right to
say that。”
“Then I knowna nought as gi’es me a right to say as the year’s
turned； for all I feel it fust thing when I get up i’ th’ morning。 She
isna fond o’ Seth； I reckon； is she？ She doesna want to marry him？
But I can see as she doesna behave tow’rt thee as she daes tow’rt
Seth。 She makes no more o’ Seth’s coming a…nigh her nor if he war
Gyp； but she’s all of a tremble when thee ’t a…sittin’ down by her at
breakfast an’ a…looking at her。 Thee think’st thy mother knows
nought； but she war alive afore thee wast born。”
“But thee canstna be sure as the trembling means love？” said
Adam anxiously。
“Eh； what else should it mane？ It isna hate； I reckon。 An’ what
should she do but love thee？ Thee’t made to be loved—for where’s
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there a straighter cliverer man？ An’ what’s it sinnify her bein’ a
Methody？ It’s on’y the marigold i’ th’ parridge。”
Adam had thrust his hands in his pockets； and was looking
down at the book on the table； without seeing any of the letters。 He
was trembling like a gold…seeker who sees the strong promise of
gold but sees in the same moment a sickening vision of
disappointment。 He could not trust his mother’s insight； she had
seen what she wished to see。 And yet—and yet； now the
suggestion had been made to him； he remembered so many
things； very slight things； like the stirring of the water by an
imperceptible breeze； which seemed to him some confirmation of
his mother’s words。
Lisbeth noticed that he was moved。 She went on； “An’ thee ’t
find out as thee ’t poorly aff when she’s gone。 Thee ’t fonder on her
nor thee know’st。 Thy eyes follow her about； welly as Gyp’s follow
thee。”
Adam could sit still no longer。 He rose； took down his hat； and
went out into the fields。
The sunshine was on them： that early autumn sunshine which
we should know was not summer’s； even if there were not the
touches of yellow on the lime and chestnut； the Sunday sunshine
too； which has more than autumnal calmness for the working
man； the morning sunshine； which still leaves the dew…crystals on
the fine gossamer webs in the shadow of the bushy hedgerows。
Adam needed the calm influence； he was amazed at the way in
which this new thought of Dinah’s love had taken possession of
him； with an overmastering power that made all other feelings
give way before the impetuous desire to know that the thought
was true。 Strange； that till that moment the possibility of their ever
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being lovers had nev